Endoluminal treatment devices and related methods

Abstract

A distal end of a medical device is disclosed herein. The distal end including a tube. The distal end including a sponge positioned at a distal end of the tube. The sponge including a first flange, a second flange, and a saddle portion positioned between the first flange and the second flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A distal end of a medical device comprising:
 a tube; and   a sponge positioned at a distal end of the tube;   wherein the sponge includes a first flange, a second flange, and a saddle portion positioned between the first flange and the second flange.   
     
     
         2 . The distal end of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle portion is a first saddle portion, wherein the sponge includes a third flange between the first flange and the second flange, wherein the first saddle portion is between the first flange and the third flange, and wherein the sponge further includes a second saddle portion between the third flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         3 . The distal end of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first saddle portion is smaller than diameters of each of the first flange, the second flange, and the third flange. 
     
     
         4 . The distal end of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the second saddle portion is smaller than diameters of each of the first flange, the second flange, and the third flange. 
     
     
         5 . The distal end of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface of the first saddle portion tapers radially inward in a distal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The distal end of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first flange is larger than a diameter of the second flange, and wherein the diameter of the first flange is larger than a diameter of the third flange. 
     
     
         7 . The distal end of  claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the second flange is approximately equal to the diameter of the third flange. 
     
     
         8 . The distal end of  claim 1 , wherein the sponge includes a rounded portion extending distally from the second flange. 
     
     
         9 . The distal end of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first flange or the second flange is more flexible than the other of the first flange or the second flange. 
     
     
         10 . The distal end of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first flange or the second flange has an outer surface that tapers radially inward in a distal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The distal end of  claim 10 , further including a distal tip having an outer surface that tapers radially inward in the distal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The distal end of  claim 11 , wherein a distalmost end of the distal tip is pointed. 
     
     
         13 . The distal end of  claim 12 , wherein a same line extends along outer surfaces of the first flange, the second flange, and the distal tip. 
     
     
         14 . The distal end of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are connected to form a helix. 
     
     
         15 . The distal end of  claim 14 , wherein a single curve extends along a first surface surfaces and a second surface of the helix. 
     
     
         16 . A distal end of a medical device comprising:
 a tube; and   a sponge positioned at a distal end of the tube;   wherein the sponge includes a flange and a portion extending distally of the flange, wherein an outer surface of the portion extending distally of the flange tapers radially inward in a distal direction.   
     
     
         17 . The distal end of  claim 16 , wherein the flange is a first flange, the distal end further comprising a second flange that is distal of the first flange, wherein the outer surface of the portion extending distally of the first flange tapers between the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         18 . The distal end of  claim 17 , wherein the outer surface of the portion extending distally of the first flange has a rounded shape, forming a rounded distalmost end of the sponge. 
     
     
         19 . The distal end of  claim 17 , wherein the outer surface of the portion extending distally of the first flange is an outer surface of the second flange, wherein a saddle portion extends between the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         20 . A medical method comprising:
 moving a sponge coupled to a distal end of a tube proximally, such that the sponge transitions from a first configuration, in which a first flange and a second flange of the sponge are within a cavity of a body lumen and a third flange of the sponge is outside of the cavity, to a second configuration, in which the first flange is within the cavity of the body lumen, and the second flange and the third flange are outside of the cavity; and   applying a negative pressure to the sponge using the tube.